MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Oct. 29, 1997) -- Netscape Communications Corporation (NSCP) today announced that U S WEST Communications, a leading provider of telecommunications services to more than 25 million customers in 14 western and Midwestern states, is offering Netscape Communicator client software as the default Internet client for users of its newly-launched U S WEST.net consumer and small business Internet service. In December 1996, Netscape announced that other regional Bell Internet units including Ameritech Interactive Media Services, Bell Atlantic Internet Solutions, BellSouth.net and Southwestern Bell Internet Services had adopted Netscape client software as their default Internet client. Together with U S WEST, these companies represent a potential market for Netscape clients of 97 million consumers in 40 states.
This agreement is another step in the 'Netscape Everywhere' initiative aimed at bringing Netscape technology to millions of new users in homes, education and enterprises worldwide. It also extends Netscape's existing relationships with U S WEST. Currently, U S WEST licenses Netscape client and server software for internal use, including 50,000 copies of Netscape Communicator to serve as a common user interface on its employees' desktops. It also uses Netscape SuiteSpot server software as a high-performance platform for creating, managing and distributing Web-based information and applications across its Intranet. The announcement also expands Netscape's agreement with U S WEST's data integration arm, U S WEST !NTERPRISE Networking, which utilizes Netscape client software for !NTERACT, its Internet service targeted at businesses.
"U S WEST, a leading provider of data services to businesses, is now extending its expertise to the consumer market. By providing the market-leading, standards-based Netscape Communicator client software suite, U S WEST will provide U S WEST.net customers with state-of-the-art technology for taking advantage of all the Internet has to offer," said Mike Homer, executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Netscape. "More than 65 million people already use Netscape client software. With this agreement, U S West will now make Netscape client software available to millions of new users nationwide."
U S WEST seeks to make Internet access as convenient as possible by offering a pre-configured version of Netscape Communicator on CD-ROM as part of the U S WEST.net subscriber package. The service features state-of-the-art access options including 56K dial-up transfer speeds and digital subscriber line (DSL) service.
"U S WEST is very pleased to offer Netscape Communicator client software as the Internet software suite of choice for U S WEST.net subscribers," said John Charters, vice-president of Internet Services at U S WEST !NTERPRISE Networking. "We chose Netscape Communicator for its ease-of-use, support for open standards and impressive flexibility."
Netscape Communicator is an open email, groupware, and browser suite that provides the complete set of tools users need every day to communicate, share and access information easily on Intranets and the Internet. Netscape Communicator includes the popular Netscape Navigator browser along with several other components: Netscape Netcaster, Netscape Calendar, Netscape Composer, Netscape Messenger, Netscape Collabra, Netscape Conference.
U S WEST Communications provides a full range of telecommunications services -- including wireline, wireless PCS and data networking -- to more than 25 million customers in 14 western and Midwestern states. The company is one of two major groups that make up U S WEST, a company in the connections business, helping customers share information, entertainment and communications services in local markets worldwide. U S WEST's other major group, U S WEST Media Group, is involved in domestic and international cable and telephony, wireless communications, and directory and information services. U S WEST Communications Group's 1996 revenues of $10.1 billion and 47,000-plus employees make it one of the largest telecommunications firms in the world.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation, live online applications. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to moreinfo@netscape.com. Corporate customers can call 415-937-2555 while consumers can call 415-937-3777 for more information.
Netscape, Netscape Navigator, and the Netscape N logo are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in other countries.